Category: Uncategorized

Clarity. Five Questions. Technology. Talent.

Moving On. Do You Have Answers? Chiplets. A Fistful of Dollars. 

  • A friend gave me a book right after the holidays. He assumed it was an easy read and that I would enjoy the takes from Robert Glazer, a global business leader and national bestselling author. Titled Friday Forward, the book’s objective is to provide inspiration and motivation to end your work week stronger than it started. The book contains fifty-two weeks of inspirational stories, taking in one story a week for a year. I just finished week two, a three-minute read titled “Moment of Clarity.” Glazer narrowcasts the word ‘clarity’, with the notion that while most of us know what we want, we are often afraid to even acknowledge it, much less pursue it. A sentence in the chapter really did resonate with me: “Gaining clarity might mean that we face a relationship that, in our gut, we know is doomed or move on from a career that isn’t going anywhere or doesn’t fulfill us.” Reflecting back, this sentence is so true. 

A big thank you to Jim, for giving me this easy read. I really look forward to the next fifty chapters. 

Five Questions for Mid-January

  • Does the U.S. and the U.K. move to an all-out assault of the Houthi rebels in Yemen? Do disruptions in the Red Sea lead to supply chain issues? 
  • What is the go-forward with Gaza once the Israelis feel like they have eliminated Hamas? Who governs Gaza?
  • How will future Covid-19 variants and other airborne pathogens be designated by the WHO and the CDC? Another pandemic or an endemic? Are pandemics and endemics mutually exclusive? 
  • Will $4.7 billion in economic aid from the IMF help Argentina help correct the country’s financial woes? South America’s second largest country has an annual inflation rate of 211%. Not good.
  • Hertz, after making a huge investment to support their EV fleet of cars, is selling off their EV cars due to “hidden costs.” Anyone with an electric vehicle care to chime in?

Quote of the Week: – from Sir Edmund Hillary:

“You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things—to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.”

Understatement of the Week – from the editor of a travel website reflecting on the state of many airlines’ ‘exclusive’ customer lounges:

“This is a very natural change, and I expect it to continue rising until demand and supply balance out. It is even my own personal opinion that there are too many people in these lounges at the moment, and sometimes it’s difficult to find a place to sit down.”

  • From my longtime friend Rick S. He sent me this list of ten breakthrough technologies for 2024. Some are quite interesting; some I really do not understand. That could be due to the list being created by the MIT Technology Review. 🙂
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) will continue to not only reshape the tech industry but our everyday lives.
  • Super-efficient Solar Cells will take advantage of a layer of tiny crystals to dramatically increase the ability of solar panels to be more efficient, create a greater range of electricity, and reduce carbon emissions. To my tech and power generation friends: What is stopping solar power from being used with automobiles, buses, and other types of vehicular mobility? 
  • Apple Vision Pro headsets. The technology that is now used by military pilots and surgeons will morph into the consumer market. I love the technology, but I am not sure I am ready to experience augmented and virtual reality as part of my normal day. This is Apple’s reveal of this amazing headset.
  • Weight-loss Drugs dealing with what has become an epidemic of worldwide obesity. There are reports and research that medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy could help protect against heart attacks and strokes.
  • Enhanced Geothermal Systems, due to engineering challenges, is still in its infancy stage. As engineers unleash solutions for new drilling techniques there will be a better endgame with using the Earth’s heat to produce clean energy. This is way above my pay grade; does anyone want to elaborate on this energy technology? Tracy A.: care to help us understand this?
  • Chiplets are small, specialized chips that can be linked together to make computers faster and more efficient. This technology dovetails with the topic of quantum computing, which I discussed a few weeks ago…and subsequently put many readers to sleep. 
  • Gene-editing Treatments sound a bit scary, but both the U.S. and UK have given the bio-tech company Vertex regulatory approval to use gene-editing to help fight diseases including sickle-cell. This type of biotechnology could be a game-changer.
  • Exascale Computing can now perform more than an exaflop’s worth of calculations (that’s a 1 followed by 18 zeros). These new machines will allow scientists to perform sophisticated simulations of the climate, nuclear fission, turbulence, and much more. Cost of this type of computing system = $390 million, and that cost does include installation. Check Amazon for better deals.
  • Heat Pumps sales have gone vertical and for the first time have surpassed gas furnace sales. Benefits of heat pumps include higher heating efficiency, less expensive to run, no threat of gas or carbon monoxide, and it does not burn fossil fuels. One key downside to heat pumps: Since heat pumps need electricity to run, they won’t work if the power goes out. This can make it challenging to heat your home in the event of power failure, especially this weekend in places like Kansas City. 
  • Twitter Killers….there is no need to explain how and why alternatives to “X” like Threads and Bluesky are gaining traction.

The MIT Technology Review did ask their readers what technology breakthroughs are missing from the list. Some of those included robotaxis, thermal batteries, lab-grown meat, and SpaceX’s Starship rocket. Thoughts?

  • I am often amazed at the pure level of musical talent exhibited by many around the world. To this day I wish I had taken the time to learn to play an instrument. I had my excuses but reflecting back, I could have taken forty-five minutes a day to learn piano, or the organ, which sat five steps from my bedroom door. Whether the musical talent is young children or a symphony orchestra, I am often awe-struck by their talent. This performance by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra is pure talent. Composed by Ennio Morricone, the theme from A Fistful of Dollars (one of many Clint Eastwood spaghetti Westerns), features an amazing score of complexity and composition. Amazing talent. Note: this is from IMDB: Morricone was hired by director Sergio Leone for A Fistful of Dollars (1964) on the strength of some of his song arrangements. His score for that film, with its sparse arrangements, unorthodox instrumentation (bells, electric guitars, harmonicas, the distinctive twang of the Jew’s harp) and memorable tunes, revolutionized the way music would be used in Westerns, and it is hard to think of a post-Morricone Western score that doesn’t in some way reflect his influence. Although his name will always be synonymous with the spaghetti Western, Morricone has also contributed to a huge range of other film genres: comedies, dramas, thrillers, horror films, romances, art movies, exploitation movies – making him one of the film world’s most versatile artists.
An Amazing Score from A Fistful of Dollars.

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!

Seven Steps. People. Clooney. Donate. Life. To The Moon. Sing It!

Strategy For Your Life. Excellence Is Expected. It Is All About Amal. The Humane Society. We Exist Against All Odds.  NASA’s Lunar Strategy. A Great Performance. 

  • Three of my friends and I formed a small group over a year ago. We discuss the beginning of the year, avoiding New Year’s resolutions but discussing things in our life we are going to change. More than an excuse for a fun dinner fueled by a bottle of wine or two, our group discussion, as pointed out by this consultant in a Harvard Business Review video, really focuses in on our life strategy: “An integrated set of choices that positions a person to live a great life.”

The seven steps comparing corporate strategy and life strategy very much align, with step seven being the key: How can I ensure successful, sustained change? I really enjoyed how this consultant explained social comparison, where you are always comparing yourself with other people in certain areas. Who would have thought that your life can be divided into sixteen strategic life units, with the ultimate goal of creating and sustaining the life you want? The two-by-two strategic life portfolio is a great way to visually plot the level of importance compared to your level of satisfaction with your sixteen life units. The consultant gives us a great quote from the philosopher Seneca: “If you do not know which port you are sailing to, no wind is favorable.“

I will propose this exercise with my other group members at our next dinner. The video does have a short break that you can exit after five seconds, but this nine-minute video is worth the watch.

Strategize Your Life
  • Quote of the week. I did change one word:

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some MANY people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.“ – Steve Jobs

  • I am not one to watch award shows, though I do have to say that the presenters and winners have slowed their roll over the years with their political diatribes. I do remember Tina Fey burying the talented George Clooney many years ago. A classic salute to women – with Clooney taking it in stride.
  • Whatever Humane Society you support, please donate to this great cause. This note is from my Atlanta-based friend Samir, who runs the Board of the Atlanta Humane Society. Please note the Atlanta chapter’s work in Gainesville, Florida. Dear Friends: The Atlanta Humane Society “Day of Giving” is on February 15th, and as I do every year, I am reaching out to seek your support. Thank you for the tremendous support you demonstrated last year, and I am hoping for a repeat 🙂.

In my role as the chairman of the board of directors of the Atlanta Humane Society, I witness the profound impact your donations have on the essential services we provide. In the past year, we distributed nearly 170 tons of pet food to families and small animal shelters in need, we facilitated over 175,000 interactions with pets and their caring families, and we rescued more than 300 abused and maltreated animals. Additionally, our East Lake low-cost vet center provided services to countless pets in desperate need for medical attention. This year, we expanded to a new location in Gainesville, Florida and our team is working on expanding the same low-cost model initiative in Georgia and throughout the Southeast.

In the last few years and due to the pandemic, my aim to organize “Puppies Party” for the children at Scottish Rite Hospital using your donations faced challenges. My hope is for the hospital to relax its policy this year so we can restart this wonderful tradition, and put smiles on the faces of these resilient children.

To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit Samir’s fundraising page for Atlanta Humane Society. https://give.atlantahumane.org/fundraiser/5137623

Your support is genuinely appreciated, and I encourage you to forward this email to fellow animal lovers in your network. Thank you, Samir.

I am not asking but suggesting that if half the people on the JustMyTake distribution list contribute $50 to this important cause, Samir will get off to a great start with his Humane Society fundraising effort.

  • “We are alive against stupendous odds.” I have never thought about the reality of life this way, but as usual, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson nets it out. A very interesting perspective. 
An Interesting Perspective.
  • “It will open up the moon as a place where there’s so many companies doing business, that when we want to do something that’s more than just landing stuff on the moon.” This quote is not from Star Trek’s Admiral James T. Kirk. This quote is from Joel Kearns, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for exploration in the Science Mission Directorate. Kearns is explaining the hopeful launch of the New Vulcan Centaur rocket, the first of many missions under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services contract. The rocket, from commercial space technology company United Launch Alliance (ULA), will travel for twelve days to the moon, enter several weeks of different altitude orbits, and on February 23, drop a lunar lander descending from sixty-two miles to the surface of the moon.

If the landing is goes off as planned (only half of the previous missions deploying equipment and materials to the moon’s surface have been successful), the Astrobotic Technology lunar lander will deploy its payloads, which include a myriad of equipment to measure and indicate levels of water, carbon dioxide, methane and lunar radiation. Along for the ride are five lunar rovers, as well as payloads from five different countries.

The cause and effect of commercial space exploration continues to be mind-boggling as the U.S. Space Force command leverages the private sector to strengthen U.S. commercial and military space systems. Cross your fingers that this mission and lunar deployment are successful – the go-time is early tomorrow morning, January 8th.  

  • We have all attended events that have started off with someone giving it their best shot with the U.S. national anthem. I have been told many times that the anthem is a difficult song to perform, and unfortunately, we have experienced talented singers having a tough time with Francis Scott Key’s Star-Spangled Banner. Kudos to the L.A. Galaxy staff member who elected to have this young lady perform. Wow!!
Have You Heard a Better Rendition?

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Funday Sunday!

Predictions. Risk. College Sports. Bad Optics. The Catch.

What Does 2024 Bring Us?   “Fly Me To The Moon…”  NIL & The Transfer Portal. College Athletes and Cigars? Foul Ball. 

Happy 2024. The start of a new year brings us opportunity, insight, challenge, and the unknown. I do not make new year resolutions but I will take a stab at a few predictions for 2024. Some of these will align me with MOTO (master of the obvious) but this is JustMyTake: 

  • The global economy will improve and the U.S. will lead the way with a slow recovery led by the Fed methodically lowering EFFR, better known as the Fed rate.
  • Continued regulation regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not get in the way of this technology being part of our everyday lives.

Speaking of AI, this is funny….or not? MY WIFE ASKED ME WHY I SPOKE SO SOFTLY IN THE HOUSE. I SAID I WAS AFAID MARK ZUCKERBERG WAS LISTENING. SHE LAUGHED. ALEXA LAUGHED. SIRI LAUGHED. 

  • The continued severity of global climate events will dictate governments stepping in with more regulation, specifically surrounding carbon emissions.
  • Further advancements with healthcare technology and research will lead the way with breakthroughs helping to cure Alzheimer’s disease.
  • As outlined below, accessible commercial space travel to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere becomes available this year.
  • United States astronauts will return to the moon – including the first woman to step on that surface.
  • Unfortunately, the Israel-Hamas conflict will wage on through the end of the year.
  • The Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl and France will be the Euro 2024 champion.
  • The U.S. presidential election. Nope, I am not going there. :)
  • Risk mitigation is part and parcel of operating costs – with different entities having variable thresholds of risk. The risk management process consists of three parts: risk assessment and analysis, risk evaluation, and risk treatment. It is quite obvious that the building owner and general contractor of the Chrysler Building had no time to deal with risk mitigation. “A special breed” is the understatement of the New Year!
…And we think riding in an autonomous vehicle is a bit scary…………
  • Speaking of risk…..I previously wrote about Space Perspective, the Titusville, Florida space technology company now ready to take commercial passengers to the edge of space. Passengers will be in a very interesting capsule which will reach an altitude of 100,000 feet, tethered to and pulled upward by a 650-foot-tall balloon filled with hydrogen. Your six-hour adventure will cost you $125,000 so book for 2025, as 2024 is already sold out. Yes, the capsule has a bar and a bathroom. Perfect. 
A Great Experience or a Bust? No pun intended. 
  • In August of 2021, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling changed the landscape of college athletics allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, now known as the everyday acronym NIL. College athletes, above and beyond their scholarship and perks, now can be paid similar to any other person for their partnership or endorsement with a business and brand. Research done by Ohio State University estimates that a good college football player, with a large fanbase, can earn NIL money averaging $650,000. Texas quarterback Arch Manning, who has a last name synonymous with football, is worth $2.9 million with trading card company Panini America. Eighty-five Utah players, all on scholarship, received brand new Dodge Ram pickup trucks. Yes, these are COLLEGE football players.

The other part of college athletics that changes everything is the ability for athletes to change schools without having to sit out one season before eligibility. The Transfer Portal was created as a compliance tool to systematically manage the transfer process from start to finish, add more transparency to the process among schools and empower student-athletes to make known their desire to consider other programs.

Combine ‘NIL’ and the transfer portal and the net result is a top college football player, based on his new school’s ‘NIL account’, can enter the transfer portal to change to a school where they can receive a greater amount of NIL money. I do not have the facts, but one example may be former Florida standout running back Trevor Etienne, who announced via X (formerly known as Twitter), that he is transferring to Georgia and will be eligible to play for the Bulldogs next season (instead of the former rule dictating that a player who transfers schools must sit out one year before being eligible to compete). 

Don’t get me wrong, I am a UGA supporter, but one must wonder if Etienne is immediately transferring due to Georgia losing its two top running backs or because of a guarantee of a large amount of NIL money? If Alabama or Texas came to the table with more NIL money, would Etienne have ended up transferring to one of those schools? 

The college football world is forever changed and in my opinion not necessarily for the better. The JustMyTake distribution list includes many people involved with sports, media, and law…what is your take?

  • “The optics look bad.” Speaking of college football and the changing landscape, I think the Georgia Tech athletics director should take corrective action with his college football coaching staff. The behavior of the athletes, after a meaningless win in the infamous Gasparilla Bowl, was shocking to me. Smoking cigars on the sideline during the game? What kind of message does that send to their alumni, partners, sponsors, and more importantly the children watching that game? In a word, disgusting. 
  • On the opposite side of sports, let’s leave the first post of 2024 with maybe one of greatest catches of all time, including the Willie Mays over the shoulder catch of 1954. The video resolution is wonky but it really does not matter. Watch this young lady track and catch this line drive foul ball. 
Are You Kidding Me?

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a great 2024! 

NORAD, For the Children.

Do Not Challenge A Two-Star General After He Details A Mission Critical Engagement.

First, a bit of background on the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

  • NORAD is charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning for North America.
  • Aerospace warnings include the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles.
  • NORAD is bunkered within Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, Colorado, more than 2,000 feet under the mountain with sealable doors weighing 23 tons.
  • NORAD, as they have done every year for sixty-eight years, commenced their annual mission to track Santa Claus, going to full operational mode at 6am EST this morning.
  • The mission expense is offset by corporate donors and involves over 1,000 volunteers who via a NORAD hotline, receive over 130,000 calls from all over the globe from children wanting to know when Santa is coming to their home.

General Glen VanHerck is the Commander of NORAD, and reports directly to the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Canada. General VanHerck recently stated in no uncertain way that one of the most important services and missions NORAD provides will continue this week. The mission: since 1955, NORAD has tracked Santa on December 24, using “all available personnel and technology” to ensure that children around the world have a chance to see where Santa is in real time.

In a recent press conference, a question posed to General VanHerck challenged the December 24th mission as a non-essential use of funds and personnel. After a long stare down, General VanHerck told the journalist that he was “out of line and to stand down or be escorted out of the press conference.” There were no more questions for General VanHerck.

Last week, at a Pentagon press conference, the media again received direct communication that NORAD would go into full operational mode to track Santa. No, there were no questions. 

https://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a very, Merry Christmas. 

Quantum. Things I Think.

Super Fast Computations. The Good, the Bad, the Ugly. 

Last week, I provided a take discussing why developmental biologists think anthrobots made from a person’s own tissue could be used to clear arteries, break up mucus, or deliver drugs, with or without genetic engineering, and how this may change our lives in the very near future.

This week, influenced by a 60 Minutes segment last Sunday night, I dive into the world of quantum computing and how it will also change our lives. As a baseline, here is why quantum computing is so important: Quantum computing is a multidisciplinary field comprising aspects of computer science, physics, and mathematics that utilizes quantum mechanics to solve complex problems faster than on classical computers. The field of quantum computing includes hardware research and application development.

So what to “solve complex problems faster than on classical computers?” Do we not have supercomputing capabilities to solve problems in a faster way? Do we not have powerful computing right now that provides simulations to solve problems with energy, manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation?

The answer to these questions = yes, but let’s try to compare today’s powerful computing with what quantum computing will offer up. Without exploring quantum computing dynamics that I cannot understand, here is the basic performance premise: 

Computing for the most part was developed on a binary platform, which we all use day in and day out. With the exponential increase in the volumes of data to process, binary computing (1’s and 0’s) limit the performance, speed, and results with processing applications and analytics. In summary, classical (binary) computers generally return one result, limiting the power of decisions.

Quantum computing allows simultaneous analysis allowing data to be processed at amazing speed, providing multi-dimensional analysis and analytics. Unlike binary processing, quantum computers return a diversity of results, offering a much better and faster solution to data analysis and workflow, and a much higher rate of validity of that data. 

Multi-dimensional analysis derived from quantum computing that even I can understand…sort of:

Processing data in multi-dimensional space enables a quantum computer to solve a large set of variables simultaneously, which dramatically accelerates the results. This example is from the QCI, a technology company focusing on quantum computing:

  • Let’s take a simple problem (a 4×4) that has 16 potential combinations that could meet a constrained objective.
  • Classic computers have to check the validity of each option to see if it is true or false that it meets the criteria.
  • Thanks to multi-dimensional analysis, a quantum computer can check all sixteen options simultaneously.
  • Now apply that to problems with hundreds of thousands of potential combinations and you see the power of quantum computing. 

Now that I have put you to sleep, let’s just net out the benefits of quantum computing. Quantum computing is a new generation of technology that involves a type of computer 158 million times faster than the most sophisticated supercomputer we have in the world today. It is a device so powerful that it could do in four minutes what it would take a traditional supercomputer 10,000 years to accomplish. This is all very difficult for me to comprehend, but if you find last Sunday’s 60 Minutes segment or watch the video below, the reality of what quantum computing can and will do is mind-boggling.

In the last few weeks I have discussed artificial intelligence (AI), androids and anthrobots, and now quantum computing. My point is that these three complex technologies combined have and will continue to change our lives. For the better, or for the worse, you can decide. 

The Technology To Make Data Analysis and Decision-Making Faster and Better.

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Orlando’s fixed-price restaurant month between August and September raised $270,000 for various charities in central Florida. A very cool way to give back.

Regarding central Florida, the weather here is so nice. I can wait a long time for the ninety-degree weather that starts as early as mid-May. 

Have you been to Nepal? My Lyft driver, who has been in New York City for seven years, gave me the run down on this land-locked country which sits between India and China in South Asia. Yes, this is the region of the world known for the Himalayas and Mount Everest, the highest mountain peak in the world. I am not a ‘trekker’ but I would like to visit this part of the world.

Two Mega-Millions jackpot tickets were sold at the same convenience store in California. Come on conspiracy theorists!!

Speaking of money…..The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a ten-year, $700 million contract. Enough said.

I am in Brooklyn and then Manhattan for the next few days. If you take away the mass amount of humans, Manhattan is glowing during the holiday season.

While I am in Manhattan, I will stop by Rockefeller Center to look at the massive Christmas tree and the ice-skating fun. Here is what I will not be doing atop Rockefeller Center: 

In A Word…..NO.

As if Elon Musk is not strange enough, take a look at Tesla’s new Cybertruck. I have been involved with the world of design/build for a long time. I have always challenged designers to ‘think out of the box’ and provide a myriad of creative concepts. Those design concepts are vetted and narrow casted into a final design that achieves the goals, objectives, and criteria of the project. Regarding the Cybertruck, who the hell approved this design? 

                                    Seriously?

The Israel-Gaza and Russia-Ukraine wars are obviously top-of-mind. My head in the sand moment: reading that there are forty-five other conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, twenty-one in Asia, seven in Europe, and six in Latin America. Think territory, religion, greed, and drugs. Sad, but true.

As the holidays approach, and considering the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly in today’s world, let’s end the year with a feel good moment. The Masaka Kids Africana is composed of children who have lost one or both parents due to “the devastation of war, famine, and disease”. Their goal is to empower children by mobilizing communities and support them with more structured education. The Masaka Kids are from Uganda. Enjoy.

Wow!!!!!!

I am traveling and celebrating the Holidays and will post again on Sunday, January 7th of the new year. Best wishes to all for Happy Holidays, and a safe and fulfilling 2024! 

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and Happy Holidays to all. 

Biobots. Henry. EV Mandates. Honor.

The Androids Are Coming! Kissinger, The Statesman And Villain. Have We Actually Planned For EVs? “You’ll Never Walk Alone”

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

  • When the word android comes up in conversation, it usually describes a device (phone or computer) that uses the Android operating system. For this take, I am discussing the other android, the one that Hollywood exemplified via movies like RoboCop, Terminator, Ex Machina, and Alien. The android, by definition, is a robot designed to look or behave like a human being. All the movies I listed, plus many more, used some semblance of an android as an antagonist, or in some cases a hero. Whether we gave credence to the use of androids in movies or not, the forefront of artificial intelligence is allowing the android to become part of the thread of our existence.

Scientists somehow have developed tiny robots made of human cells. These scientists, after years of research and laboratory testing, have discovered these tiny robots, a.k.a. ‘anthrobots’, are capable of reproducing characteristics of man, imitating distinctive features such as appearance and movements. The initial objective of this research and development is focused on healthcare, investigating how anthrobots can provide therapeutic potential using human tissue grown in the laboratory. Have I lost you yet?

To be a bit more clear, here is the net result of the laboratory testing and experiments: To test the anthrobots’ therapeutic potential, the developmental biologists placed several anthrobots into a small dish (think Biology 101). There, the anthrobots fused together to form a ‘superbot’, which the researchers placed on a layer of neural tissue that had been scratched. Within three days, the sheet of neurons had completely healed under the superbot. This was surprising because “the anthrobot cells were able to perform this repair function without requiring any genetic modification.”

Going forward, developmental biologists think anthrobots made from a person’s own tissue could be used to clear arteries, break up mucus, or deliver drugs, with or without genetic engineering. By combining several cell types and exploring other stimuli, it might also be possible to develop biobots — robots made from biological material — with potential applications in sustainable construction and outer-space exploration. I know this reads a bit wonky, but the use of anthrobots and biobots are clearly going to change the way we live…not now, but in the very near future. This short video explains some of the applications of biobots:

How Biobots May Change The Way We Live.
  • He was a veteran, serving with the U.S. Army’s 84th Infantry Division, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, and was the only politician who served as the Secretary of State and National Security Advisor at the same time. He advised both Republican and Democratic presidents, pioneered a policy of detente with the Soviet Union, was instrumental in diplomatically ending the Yom Kippur middle east conflict, and opened up relations with China.

Born Heinz Alfred Kissinger in Furth, Germany, his family was bullied by anti-Semites, forcing them to move to New York in 1938. He soon became an American citizen and was awarded a Bronze Star for his work as a translator in intelligence operations which led to the capture of Gestapo members. The accolades are numerous for Henry Kissinger, who passed away last week at the age of one hundred.

Many called Kissinger an enemy of the state as his negotiations around the world led to the deaths of thousands, with many pointing to him as the reason so many U.S. military personnel lost their lives in the Vietnam War. He was called the master of ‘proxy regimes’ often sabotaging chances to end wars and conflicts with his never-ending level of extending compromise. I remember my father, who fought in the Korean War, was not a supporter of Henry Kissinger. Upon review, my father’s negative take on Kissinger is supported by millions of others.

After reading about Kissinger, I came across this quote from Benazir Bhutto, who was a Pakistani politician and stateswoman who served as the 11th and 13th prime minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country: “To make peace, one must be an uncompromising leader. To make peace, one must also embody compromise.”

Was Henry Kissinger all about compromise or manipulation, or in his case are these two words interchangeable?

The master of diplomacy or manipulation?
  • I have written, to a point of ad nauseum, my concern with the push from the federal government with electric vehicle (EV) mandates. Whether it stems from our electrical grid infrastructure or the lack of charging stations, it is obvious to me that the EV mandates are premature. The continued development of EV batteries, allowing for greater miles per charge, and the installation of EV charging stations around the country may help satisfy some of my concerns, but the Biden administration’s regulation that would require that two-thirds of new vehicles sold in the U.S. be electric by 2032 is basically ridiculous and unwarranted.

I assume that these mandates were generated by eco-phobic politicians, who used Tesla’s early-stage vehicle demand to support their EV theories. The reality has now set in as automobile dealers across the U.S. are pushing back on the administration’s EV mandates, with a clear message that electric vehicle demand today is not keeping up with the large influx of EVs arriving dealerships prompted by the current regulations.

Last week, 3,882 dealerships across all 50 states have sent a letter to President Biden urging him and his administration to hold off on EV mandates. That is a strong message from a very important sector of the U.S. economy – clearly stating that the majority of customers, for many reasons, are not ready to switch to electric vehicles.

Ironic or not, at the same time these dealers are pushing back on EV mandates, the City of Detroit is adopting a wider acceptance of EVs with the installation of a quarter mile “charging” road, similar to the technology for charging cellphones and other devices. The City of Detroit states that large copper coils are installed under the road to create a magnetic field inducing electric current in a receiver in the car. While these “charged” roads may increase the range EVs can drive between charges, does anyone way smarter than me see issues with a magnetic fields on our highways that induce electric current?

Any Concerns?

Talent is talent. The operatic voice of Cristina Ramos is amazing enough, and then as Gomer Pyle said so eloquently, “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.” Wow!!!

In A Word, Fantastic!

This Thursday is December 7. If that date is not significant to you, I would strongly suggest you Google December 7. It was only eighty-two years ago. Please fly your flag.

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!

Things I Think. Thanks. Now Boarding.

Random Thoughts Heading Into December. A Few Of Many Things I Am Thankful For. The Focker Gate Experience.

With the holiday season in play, here are some top-of-mind things I think:

  • Elon Musk – please use your resources, assets, and technology to help humankind, and stop your racist and antisemitic rants. Just stop.
  • With retailers starting Black Friday earlier and earlier every year, does anyone still rush to their favorite store at 6am on Friday?
  • Last Friday, Wall Street closed out a third straight winning week. Are we really heading to a ‘soft landing’ with the economy, and will 2024 see the Federal Reserve finally done with rate hikes? Note: On Friday, U.S. oil prices fell to a 4-month low.
  • Many people are talking about Ridley Scott’s new movie Napoleon, which hits theatres this week. My pick, of course, is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
  • Will Taylor Swift be at tomorrow night’s Monday night football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs? If so, what is the over/under on the number of times the director cuts to Ms. Swift frolicking in her suite? Must-see TV.
  • I am a Deion Sanders supporter, but it looks like the University of Colorado coach and his two football-playing sons are finding out what ‘big-boy’ football is all about. Sanders’ Colorado team lost 56-14 to Washington State on Friday night.
  • Journalism and fabricating stories have an inverse relationship. Charissa Thompson – you have done harm to your peers who have worked so hard to ensure women have opportunities with male-dominated sports broadcasting. Shameful.
Not okay at any level.
  • We have heard for years about Venezuela and their serious socioeconomic plight. What I did not know is that Argentina, a country I somehow assumed had a strong economy, is in its worst financial crisis in years, with annual inflation toping 140%. Latin America’s third largest economy is on track to shrink 3.0% year-over-year, resulting in a shocking cost-of-living crisis.
  • The definition of a self-serving politician: George Santos. George, just go away, somewhere far away.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, here are some general and personal things I am thankful for:

  • The ongoing efforts of first responders and healthcare workers – they are fearless and amazing.
  • For the freedom to vote.
  • For my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.
  • For the technology such as Zoom and FaceTime that sometimes drives us crazy but allows us to spend time together.
  • For my baking skills, though one of my friends has been quite critical that I can do better. Meh.
  • For the sponsors, partners, owners, staff, players, conferences, leagues, and media who bring us live, televised sports.
  • For my friends who bring camaraderie, laughs, and sometimes a good bottle of wine.
  • For the ocean and the mountains.
  • For the weather in Central Florida now being amazing.
  • For all of you, who read my blog, (this being post # 335), offer up suggestions, and comment whether you agree or disagree.
  • Regarding the Thanksgiving holiday, travel starting today through next Sunday is tracking to increase 2.5% over last year as more people will take to the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022. Most airports are already busy, with an estimated five million people heading to spend time with family or taking a holiday during Thanksgiving week. We have all dealt with the bizarre dynamics at an airport gate and with the boarding process. After millions of dollars spent on time and motion studies, boarding a commercial aircraft is still a dilemma no matter the airline. Regarding the boarding process, the interaction between ‘Focker’ and this gate agent must be part of every airline training manual. Wishing those who do travel this week an easy and seamless travel experience.
The gate agent’s glare at the 0.35 mark is priceless!

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Shameful. Game Control. Veterans Day. Chivalry. They Behave. Quirky. South Park.

  • Those Were The Candidates To Lead The Most Powerful Nation On Earth?
  • “This Is Not Soccer.”
  • Salute Our Veterans!
  • This Is My House…..
  • Chicken Livers On The Way To School.
  • Mike McDaniel Is A Different
  • Can We Just All Get Along?
  • I am still receiving emails about my thoughts on the 2024 Presidential election. Those thoughts will be kept to myself as I no longer comment or have an opinion with the world of politics and many self-serving politicians. Here is what I will say: Last Wednesday night, for a reason that I cannot explain, I turned on my television and the channel was showing the Republican presidential primary debate held in Miami, Florida. Republican, Democratic, or whatever party, that was twenty minutes I will never get back. No names mentioned of course, but the twenty minutes I watched was both embarrassing and slightly humiliating. Leadership candidates of the United States of America making a mockery of serious domestic and international issues. Okay, I have again said my peace.
  • From the world of sport: The ridiculous, outlandish, and time-wasting by soccer players complaining to the referee about every call needs to stop. Over and over again, players charging up to the referee after a foul or decision being made is maddening. There is no doubt that soccer leagues around the world need to put a dead stop to this practice – and learn from the world of rugby. Nigel Owens is a renowned rugby referee, known for his quick wit and one-liners, but more importantly his command and control of a sport played with reckless abandon. This video quickly shows who is in charge, and his quip regarding ‘this is not soccer’ is a classic. Yes, the center referee in world rugby is microphoned-up and wears a body camera.
Nigel Owens taking control.
  • Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. First observed on November 11, 1919, Veterans Day was first called Armistice Day in honor of the first anniversary of the end of World War I, which ended on the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Please get your flag out, fly it proudly, and to all the veterans: praise, honor, admiration, and thank you.
Thank You, Veterans.
  • Speaking of honor and respect, this is a post-game press conference and it is obvious Mexican LigaMX manager Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti was not exactly in a good mood. He always starts his presser with women reporters asking their questions first, and when one moronic male reporter asked him why….well, you can watch what happened…..
There is no doubt that Tuca Ferretti is all about chivalry!
  • Chicken liver with your bus ride to school. Doggy daycare gone over the top? What an impressive and creative idea. Could daycare facilities and schools learn some best practices from the doggie bus? Wow.
Alaskan Doggie Day Care!!
  • Headline of the week: Plane bound for Orlando takes off with missing window panes as crew fails to spot damage. The plane reached an altitude of 14,000 feet before the crew realized ‘something was wrong.’ So much for the pilots’ pre-flight inspection protocols.
  • I have often reflected about my memories of the Miami Dolphins. Many of the famous Dolphins’ players are still top of mind for me, and their head coach of those days was the epitome of discipline, strategy, and most importantly exemplified his desire to win. I am referring to Don Shula, still the winningest coach in NFL history with 347 wins, including two Super Bowls and one NFL championship. Fast-forward to today’s Miami Dolphins’ head coach, Mike McDaniel. His path to a head coaching job in the NFL is mind-boggling, starting off as a 22-year-old intern with the Denver Broncos. McDaniel is no Don Shula, but he does bring a refreshing, quirky, and very honest personality to the ranks of NFL head coaches. McDaniel does not hide the funny, or not funny, like how he once consumed alcohol in excess and has battled hard to reach sobriety. From McDaniel: “I think people respond best to authenticity, to know that nothing that you say or do is fabricated,” McDaniel said. “So, I just try to stay true to my personality and I feel like that’s owed to people. You have to give yourself, if you’re in a leadership role where you’re serving other people. You have to give people yourself and so I just try to pride myself on that and hold nothing back because I feel like that’s what people deserve.” In many ways, but with a slightly different approach, Mike McDaniel does bring a level of leadership to the Dolphins they once enjoyed with Don Shula.
Mike McDaniel is no Don Shula.
  • South Park has a massive following. The creativity and writing on that show has been honored many times, winning both Peabody and Emmy awards. The series became infamous for its profanity and dark, surreal humor that satirizes a wide range of subjects and issues. We can always hope that this animated bit can become true very soon.
Van Halen’s 1978 classic Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!

Darkness. AI Control. Ad Spend. Player.

An Explanation. Setting Standards. $7m For 30 Seconds. Baby Come Back.

  • It has been another six months and this morning we moved the clock back. Yes, every year at this time I moan about the lack of daylight in the early evenings. I do not understand why we continue to adhere to a strategy imposed in 1974 to help mitigate an ongoing natural gas crisis. Sure, we will have light earlier on in the morning, but the dread of darkness creeping into the afternoon is not fun. I never wish my life to move any faster than it already is, but for one I cannot wait until March 10, 2024.
Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson with his take on changing the clocks every six months.
  • In my last post, one take discussed artificial intelligence (AI) technology and my concerns about its potential use within technology sectors, healthcare, transportation, education, and the military. My issues with AI were not with the technology itself, but more about its exponential growth without standards and protocols.

Last week, the United States announced that it is leading the way with trying to wrap some level of regulation around AI, as the White House handed down an executive order, the most significant action with AI the administration has taken to date. The order provides standards for safety and security, protecting consumers privacy rights, advancing equity and civil rights, promoting workers, and spelling out how government should use AI. No, this is not the be all and end all of trying to control the use of AI, but at minimum it is start of trying to wrap some command and control with the exponential growth of AI.

  • There is no doubt that worldwide marketers are taking a hard look at their advertising spend, especially considering what many think will be a slow down with the economy. While over-the-air and cable television are still a bit of the norm, advertisers have been and will continue to use streaming and digital as alternative advertising platforms. With all that said, there is no doubt the NFL is still the preeminent televised sport in the United States. CBS/Paramount announced last week that their inventory for commercial spots for February’s Super Bowl has sold out…at $7 million for a 30-second spot. I assume that these advertisers are betting on two competitive opponents, a fantastic halftime show, and ad spots that the viewing audience glean over. The projected television audience for the February 11, 2024, Super Bowl is expected to reach 120 million.
A top commercial from last year’s Super Bowl.

Six Things I Think I Think

  • New York City is back in a big way. The streets, the restaurants, the stores – all packed with people. A great response from the dark days of the pandemic.
  • Speaking of cities and a complete change of socioeconomics, the Miami River sector near the Dolphin Expressway in Miami, Florida should be a benchmark for redevelopment across the United States.
  • What a weekend in Orlando with the two-day Fall Fiesta at Lake Eola Park, and last night’s Jazz Fest in the College Park neighborhood.
  • Who would have predicted that flexible work entities would be in such bad financial shape, when just a few years ago that space was on fire? WeWork, Workbar, Impact Hub, and Regus are just a few of these businesses who have fallen on hard times.
  • Mortgage rates fell below 8% on Friday – the lowest level since September. Will this trend continue or will the Fed step in again to ‘curb inflation?’
  • Are we missing something here? The 2023 Cricket World Cup lasts six weeks with the final match at the end of November. Through the first eighteen matches, the worldwide television viewership was 365 million people. Say what?
  • I know I complain a bit too often about today’s music. While there are many artists who are fantastic, the music of the past will unfortunately never be replicated. I could start a long list, and many of you would agree with my assessment that the music of the 1970’s/80’s was incredible. Yacht rock, classic rock, disco, Motown, heavy metal, and folk music. “Baby Come Back” was released in 1977 by British-American rock band Player. The song is so well done it reached #1 on the Billboard 100. The music is fantastic and the vocals, by Peter Beckett, are bar none. Real vocals + real musicians = real talent.
The 1977 hit “Baby Come Back” by Player

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday.

Healthcare AI. Hero. Chaka Finally.

Why AI Is Not Always The Right Path Forward. Do Not Mess With This Grandfather. “Ain’t Nobody”

  • I find it interesting, and sometimes puzzling, why the topic of healthcare seems to be an increasingly top-of-mind discussion point for too many people. I had a lengthy conversation about healthcare with two friends, one from Scottsdale, Arizona, and the other from Toronto, Canada. I found the conversation interesting with the topic covering everything from increasing costs to the quality of healthcare in the U.S. and Canada. The Canadian, for obvious reasons, boasted about her country’s publicly funded healthcare system, known as Medicare. The Canadian Medicare system is a set of ten provincial and three territorial healthcare systems, covering a wide range of services including childbirth, surgery, and prescription drugs. Based on this riveting 🙂 conversation about healthcare, I decided to post about the U.S. healthcare system.

The U.S. healthcare system is often criticized for various reasons, and some people describe it as corrupt or flawed due to several factors. It’s important to note that this description does not apply to all aspects of the healthcare system, and many healthcare professionals and institutions work diligently to provide high-quality care. However, some common criticisms and issues include:

  • High Costs: The United States spends more per capita on healthcare than any other developed country. The high costs can be attributed to various factors, including administrative expenses, the cost of prescription drugs, and the high salaries of healthcare professionals.
  • Lack of Universal Coverage: Unlike many other developed countries, the U.S. does not have a universal healthcare system. This means that millions of Americans are uninsured or underinsured, leading to disparities in access to care.
  • Insurance Industry Complexity: The involvement of private health insurance companies has led to a complex and fragmented system. This complexity can result in high administrative costs and difficulties for patients in understanding their coverage.
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: The cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. is often much higher than in other countries. The pharmaceutical industry’s pricing practices have faced scrutiny and criticism.
  • Profit-Driven Healthcare: Some argue that the profit motive in healthcare can lead to overuse or unnecessary procedures, tests, and treatments, as well as a focus on profit over patient well-being.
  • Inequality: Disparities in healthcare access and outcomes based on factors such as race, income, and location are significant concerns.
  • Lobbying and Political Influence: The healthcare industry, including pharmaceutical companies, insurance providers, and hospital groups, often wields significant influence in U.S. politics, which can shape healthcare policy and regulation.
  • Legal Issues and Fraud: There have been cases of fraud and abuse within the U.S. healthcare system, including insurance fraud, kickbacks, and overbilling.

It’s important to recognize that while there are systemic issues, the U.S. healthcare system also provides world-class care in many areas, and many healthcare professionals are dedicated to their patients’ well-being. Reform efforts continue to address some of the issues, but the complexity of the system and political considerations make significant changes challenging. Public discourse and policy debates about healthcare reform in the U.S. are ongoing.

Did you fall asleep reading that? Reality:

  1. I had a conversation about healthcare with my friends from Scottsdale and Toronto.
  2. I did write the opening paragraph.
  3. I did NOT write the italicized content. All of that content was written in under five seconds using artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT – Open AI.

After reading a good bit about artificial intelligence, I am going on record that I am very concerned about its use, the impact on our society, and how it may affect general human behavior. Without trying to put you to sleep with my concerns with AI, here are three in no particular order:

  • AI’s ability to generate and use algorithms that prioritize engagement over truth – and how this may divide and polarize content…any content.
  • The ability for AI to create or alter social media platforms to generate attention, emotions, and beliefs, and create a distorted sense of reality.
  • How value and ethics come into play with the use of artificial intelligence, and depending on who is using AI, their ability to promote good, bad, and evil.

I used the comparison of the U.S. and Canada healthcare systems as an example of AI-generated content. Simple, straightforward, and no harm, no foul with that type of content. Where the use of AI goes sideways: it is an ungovernable technology and can be used by bad people to wrongly shape opinion, behavior, and values by generating content that is harmful and incorrect. The following are examples of AI going terribly wrong:

  • In 2016, Microsoft launched an AI chatbot named Tay on Twitter. The chatbot was designed to learn from the interactions it had with users and become more intelligent over time. However, within a day of its launch, Tay began spewing racist and sexist comments.
  • In 2018, Amazon had to scrap an AI recruiting tool because it was biased against women.
  • In 2020, a study used AI to predict criminality from faces. Researchers from Harrisburg University announced that they had developed facial recognition software that could predict whether someone would be a criminal. The software could allegedly predict from a single photo of a face with an 80% accuracy rate and no racial bias. In response to this announcement, 2,425 experts signed a letter urging the journal not to publish this study or similar research in the future because this type of technology can reproduce injustices and cause real harm to society.
  • In 2021, OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model was found to be generating racist and sexist content.

One theorist, Tristan Harris, argues that “AI is not just a tool, but a force that is shaping our perspective and reality in ways that we are not aware of or in control of. He also claims that AI is creating a “race to the bottom of the brain stem”, where tech companies compete to capture our attention and manipulate our emotions, often at the cost of truth, ethics, and human dignity.” Harris also believes that a level of AI legislation and regulation must be enacted very soon as “AI will end the world by amplifying our own human flaws and biases, and creating a feedback loop of polarization, misinformation, and extremism. He says that AI is already eroding our trust in each other and in institutions and undermining our democracy and social cohesion. He warns that AI could also trigger existential risks, such as nuclear war, bioweapons, or climate change, by destabilizing the geopolitical order or enabling malicious actors.”

I am not sure I agree with Harris’ extreme views on AI, but I do believe that entities better get a grip on the use of artificial intelligence very soon.

Only Sebastian Maniscalco Can Dumb Down The Use of A.I.

Last week’s post discussing the tragedy in the Middle East evoked a good bit of feedback and comments. The ongoing horrible saga continues with no end in sight. Last week’s comments on the tragic events will be my last, though I felt it was important to substantiate and depict the reality of terrorism, whether it be in the Middle East or here in the United States. Below is a snippet of a thirteen-minute segment of last Sunday’s 60 Minutes, which after fifty-five years, is still one of the best written ‘news magazine’ shows on television.

This thirteen-minute video documents the heroism of a former Israel Defense Force operative, who did not hesitate to go into battle again to rescue his son and family, as well as a couple fleeing the terrorists, and two wounded Israeli soldiers. Thirteen minutes that most of us cannot relate to. This thirteen minutes is worth your time: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/israeli-family-rescued-by-retired-idf-general-60-minutes-video-2023-10-15/

An Amazing Rescue.
  • I try to end every post with a bit of positivity and fun, and today will be no different.

Part of an inter-racial funk band, which started over fifty years ago, Chaka Khan, in my opinion, has been in a league of her own. Her powerful and amazing voice evokes emotion, happiness, and soulfulness. After fifty years accumulating numerous awards, including ten Grammy’s, Chaka Khan has finally been elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It really does not get any better than the 1983 classic “Ain’t Nobody.”

Chaka Khan, and Her Massive 1983 Hit “Ain’t Nobody”

Adios, pay it forward, be safe, and have a Sunday Funday!